The Mavericks have signed 33-year old small forward Peja Stojakovic.  Stojakovic played in 8 games (0 starts) for the Raptors & Hornets earlier this year and he averaged 13.9 minutes, 8.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game.  He is still shooting the lights out as he is hitting 48.4% from three point range (15 of 31).  Stojakovic has now played in 779 games (652 starts) in his NFL career and he is averaging 34.0 minutes, 17.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game.  This was a good signing for the Mavericks who need help at small forward with Caron Butler out for the year.

The Dallas Mavericks have signed 27-year old shooting guard Sasha Pavlovic to a 10-day contract.  Pavlovic played in 71 games (0 starts) for the T-Wolves last season and he averaged 12.4 minutes, 3.7 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.  Pavlovic has now played in 452 games (127 starts) in his first 7 years in the NBA and he is averaging 16.5 minutes, 5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist per game.  Pavlovic brings a lot of energy to the court and he might be able to help the Mavericks off the bench.

The Dallas Mavericks have released 27-year old small forward Steve Novak.  Novak played in 7 games (0 starts) for the Mavericks this year and he was averaging 2.6 minutes, 1.6 points and 0.7 rebounds per game.  This is no big loss for the Mavericks as they are deep enough without Novak around.

The Dallas Mavericks have lost 30-year old, starting small forward Caron Butler for the rest of the year due to a ruptured right Achilles tendon.  Butler played in 29 games (all starts) for the Mavericks this year and he averaged 29.9 minutes, 15.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  This is a big blow to the Mavericks but at least they still have Shawn Marion around to pick up the slack.

The Mavericks have signed 26-year old guard Dee Brown and Adam Haluska. Brown played played in 2008-2009 with the Suns & Wizards. Brown has played in 68 games (11 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 10.5 minutes, 2.1 points, 1.0 rebound and 1.8 assists per game. But, Brown is only a 34% shooter from the floor so he will likely have a hard time making the team. Adam Haluska last played pro ball in the U.S. in 2007-08 in the D-League with the Iowa Energy. Haluska played in 11 games (all starts) that season and he averaged 38.5 minutes, 18.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game. Brown & Haluska are both big longshots to make the Mavericks this year.

The Mavericks have signed 33-year old small forward Brian Cardinal. Cardinal played in 29 games (0 starts) for the T-Wolves last year and he averaged 9.2 minutes, 1.7 points, 1.0 rebound and 0.8 assists per game. He has played in 356 games (33 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 15.7 minutes, 5.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game. Cardinal has been a decent outside shooter in this NBA career as he has knocked down 36.9% of his shots from three point range and that’s likely why the Mavericks signed him.

The Mavericks have invited 27-year old small forward Steve Novak to training camp. Novak played in 54 games (0 starts) for the Clippers last year and he averaged 10.1 minutes, 2.1 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. He has now played in 195 games (4 starts) in his four years in the NBA and he has averaged 10.1 minutes, 4.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. Novak’s main skill is his long distance shooting as he has connected on 40.3% from three point range. If he makes the team he will be sitting on the very end of the bench.

The Mavericks have re-signed 33-year old forward Tim Thomas to a 1-year deal. Thomas played in 18 games (1 start) last season for the Mavericks and he averaged 15.8 minutes, 7.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. He has now played in 824 games (408 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 25.9 minutes, 11.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. Thomas missed most of last season as he was taking care of his sick wife. Look for him to give the Mavericks what they thought they were going to get out of him last year in 2010-11.

UPDATE: (9/15/2010) – Tim Thomas has decided not to play for the Mavericks this season. The team and the league are working together to void his contract. Thomas wants to tend to his ailing wife instead of playing basketball which is the honorable thing to do.

22-year old shooting guard Rodrigue Beaubois will have surgery this Friday to insert a pin into his broken foot. This will keep him out 2-3 months and put the start of the 2010-11 NBA season in jeopardy. This is a blow to the Mavericks who have big plans for Beaubois this year. He played in 56 games (16 starts) as a rookie for the Mavs last season and he averaged 12.5 minutes, 7.1 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. He also is a deadeye shooter as he has made 40.9% of his three point attempts last year. The Mavericks hope he has a speedy recovery because they need him this year.

The Mavericks have acquired 27-year old C/PF Tyson Chandler and 22-year old center Alex Ajinca from the Bobcats for 34-year old center Erick Dampier, 29-year old SG/SF Matt Carroll and 34-year old forward Eduardo Najera. Chandler played in 51 games (27 starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 22.8 minutes, 6.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 0.3 assists and 1.1 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 588 games (391 starts) in his 9 years in the NBA and he has averaged 27.6 minutes, 8.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. Chandler will be Dirk Nowitzki and Brendan Haywood’s top backup in 2010-11. Alex Ajinca played in only 6 games (0 starts) for the Bobcats last season and he averaged 5.0 minutes, 1.7 points and 0.7 rebounds per game. He has now played in 37 games (4 starts) in his two years with the Bobcats and he averaged 5.7 minutes, 2.2 points, 0.9 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game. Ajinca gives the Mavs a nice big guy to bring along slowly.

Erick Dampier played in 55 games (47 starts) for the Mavericks last season and he averaged 23.3 minutes, 6.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. The Mavericks have been looking to get rid of Dampier for a while so they won’t miss him. Matt Carroll only played in 25 games (0 starts) for the Mavs last season and he averaged 4.8 minutes, 1.8 points, 0.5 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. Carroll rarely got off the bench so he won’t be missed either. Eduardo Najera played in 33 games (3 starts) for the Mavericks last season and he averaged 14.6 minutes, 3.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.

This was a good trade for the Mavericks who offed players they didn’t want anymore to net them a solid big man in Tyson Chandler.